Joan Valerie
Joan Valerie | |
|---|---|
| Born | Helen Vlahakis July 15, 1911 Rhinelander, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | January 30, 1983 (aged 71) Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | film actress |
| Years active | 1935-1953 |
| Spouse(s) | Paris Methusis Grant Richards (1940-1942) |
| Children | Jo-Ellen Rose (b. 1941) George (b. 1945)[1] |
Joan Valerie (July 15, 1911 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin - January 30, 1983 in Long Beach, California) was a Greek-American actress, who appeared mainly in B movies in the late 1930s and 1940s.
Early years
Born Helen Vlahakis,[2] in Sparta, Wisconsin,[3] she initially changed her name to Helen Valkis for acting purposes.[2] She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Vlahakis, with a sister, Catherine,[4] and brothers Peter,[5] William,[6] Ted[7] and Chris.[8]
Vlahakis was a 1931 graduate of Rhinelander High School.[9] She participated in local play productions in her hometown[10][11] and was active in theatrical productions[2] at Morningside College.[12]
In 1934, Vlahakis was selected from a group of 44 women as Morningside College's "most beautiful girl,"[13] Miss Morningside.[3]
Film
In 1928, Valerie (then known as Helen Vlahakis), was the leading lady in Yukon Trails, a Rex Pictures production that was filmed in Valerie's hometown, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, with an all-local cast.[14]
Vlahakis' performance as the lead in Edward Elsner's Not So Long Ago in Hollywood led to two film studios' giving her tryouts, one of which resulted in a small part in Reckless (1935).[3] After signing a contract (as Helen Valkis) with the Independent Productions film company in 1935,[15] she received a long-term contract from Warner Bros. in 1936.[16]
She was discovered by Darryl F. Zanuck on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse. Films include Confession, The Prince and the Pauper, Day-Time Wife, Sergeant Murphy, and Rio Rita.
Personal life
She was married to Paris Methusis[17] and, in 1940,[18] to Grant Richards.[17] She and Richards, with whom she had a daughter, Jo-Ellen Rose, were divorced September 9, 1942. A newspaper report said that Valerie "sued under her true name of Helen Jaffe."[18] She also had a son, George.[5]
Selected filmography
- Talent Scout (1937)
- Blazing Sixes (1937)
- The Man Who Wouldn't Talk (1940)
- Girl in 313 (1940)
References
- ^ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5600812/the_rhinelander_daily_news/
- ^ a b c "Beauty of Girl Here Is Lauded by Californian". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. January 4, 1935. p. 5. Retrieved June 15, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Bright Future in Drama Predicted for Local Girl". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. March 29, 1935. p. 8. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Many Here for Wedding Rites". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. June 16, 1931. p. 5. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Muller, Pat (August 1, 1951). "Movie Actress Is Vacationing In Home Town". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. p. 5. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "William Vlakis Is Hollywood Theater Star". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. December 4, 1946. p. 5. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Joan Valerie (Helen Vlahakis) Home Today; Greets Friends". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. August 11, 1938. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Joan Valerie Bring Sbeath of Hollywood to Her Home Town". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. February 10, 1943. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Helen Valkis Was Active in School Plays". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. May 18, 1937. p. 5. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "(ad for play)". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. December 17, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Announce Personnel for Historical Pageant Here". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. June 30, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Orchestra Will Appear During Guild Program". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. December 17, 1932. p. 3. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Miss Vlahakis Wins Honor as Beauty Queen". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. May 26, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Rhinelander Movie Is Shown This Week". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. December 26, 1928. p. 2. Retrieved June 15, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Signs Movie Contract". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. May 21, 1935. p. 3. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Warners Sign Helen Valkis". The Rhinelander Daily News. Wisconsin, Rhinelander. October 7, 1936. p. 2. Retrieved June 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Joan Valerie". Omnilexica. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Wins Custody of Daughter". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. September 10, 1942. p. 12. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
External links
- Joan Valerie at IMDb
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